Indicating lamp housing



April 8, 1969 P. slLvlus INDICATING LAMP HOUSING Filed Nov.` 20, 1967 WITNESSES n.

INVENTOR Pou! Silvius B @M1 WC/QL ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,438,027 INDICATING LAMP HOUSING Paul Silvius, Murrysville, Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Nov. 20, 1967, Ser. No. 684,242 Int. 'CL G09f 9/ 00 U.S. Cl. 340-381 7 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE An indicating lamp housing is formed by the com-bination of a generally tubular resistor having a central opening into which projects axially a body of insulating material including a tubular portion which is adapted to receive the base of an indicating lamp. A pair ot spaced contacts are disposed inside the opening of the resistor with one contact mounted on a portion of the insulating body which projects axially into the opening of the resistor and the other contact is mounted on the resistor adjacent to one end of the resistor to extend axially along the opening of the resistor.

Background of the invention This invention relates to indicating lamp assemblies for panel mounting and more particularly to indicating lamp housings which forms part of such assemblies.

In the application of known indicating lamp units or assemblies which are adapted for mounting in an opening of the associated panel, the indicating lamp of the unit may be electrically connected in series with and structurally combined with a voltage-dropping resistor since the voltage rating of the indicating lamp is often lower than the usual available supply voltage. 'It has been found that indicating lamp structures which have been employed in the past have been relatively larger in size than is desirable where a relatively large number of indicating lamps is provided on a single panel or the construction of the indicating lamp unit may be relatively complicated in the sense that a relatively large number of parts must be assembled in order to mount the indicating lamp unit on an associated panel as shown in US. Patent 2,331,254, which issued Oct. 5, 1943, to C. P. West.

Summary of the invention In accordance with the invention, an indicating lamp housing or receptacle comprises a generally tubular resistor having a central opening into which projects a body of insulating material having a tubular portion which is adapted to receive the base of an indicating lamp. One stationary contact for the indicating lamp is mounted on the tubular resistor and the other stationary contact for the indicating lamp is mounted on the body of insulating material. The contact mounted on the resistor is electrically interconnected with the resistor. It is desirable to provide a new indicating lamp structure which is relatively'more compact in its overall size when cornbined with a voltage-dropping resistor and which is relatively simpler in construction in that the unit requires a relatively fewer number of parts, to be assembled when the indicating lamp unit is-mounted on the associated panel compared with known structures of the same general type.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new and improved construction for indicating lamp assemblies or units.

A more specic object of this invention is to provide an improved indicating lamp housing having a relatively smaller overall depth or length.

3,438,027 Patented Apr. 8, 1969 ICC A further object of this invention is to provide an improved housing or receptacle for an indicating lamp which includes at least a portion of an associated voltage-dropping resistor.

Brief descripton of the drawings Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

EIGU'RE l is a view, in section, of an indicating lamp unit embodying the principal features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line lII-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged pictorial view of a body of insulating material lwhich forms part of the indicating lamp unit shown in FdG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a View in section, of a portion of the indicating lamp unit shown in FIG. 1 prior to insertion of the indicating lamp.

Description of the preferred embodiments Referring now to the drawing and FIGS. 1 and 2 in particular, there is shown an indicating lamp unit 10 which is suitable for mounting on a panel 15 having an opening 17 therein which is adapted to receive the indicating lamp unit 10. In general, the indicating lamp unit 10 comprises a lamp receptacle or housing 70 for an indicating lamp 60` provided with a lens unit or cap member 40 and a lamp resistor 30; for reducing the voltage applied to the indicating lamp 60.

More specifically, the lamp receptacle or housing 70 comprises an elongated body member 20 having an opening 22 in one end thereof for receiving the lamp 60 as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The body member 20 is formed or molded from a suitable electrically insulating material, such as a material of the polysulfone type. The lbody member 20 includes at one end a generally tubular portion 24 through which the central opening 22 passes, an enlarged ange portion 25 which is provided to facilitate the assembly of the body member 20` with the panel 15, an intermediate portion 26 which is generally arcuate or semicircular in cross-section to extend around only part of the opening 22, as shown in F'IG. 3, and

which extends axially away from the flange portion `25 to interconnect the flange portion 25 with a generally tubular portion 21 which is provided at the other end of the body member 20. In order to secure the body member 20 to the panel 15 on which the body member 20 is supported, the cross-sectional size of the tubular portion 24 of the body member 20 is relatively smaller than the size of the opening 16 in the panel 15 to permit the tubular portion 24 to project through the opening 17 with the tubular portion 24 being externally threaded, as indicated at 24A, to receive a nut 94 which is tightened against the face of the panel 15 opposite the face of the panel 15 which is adjacent the iiange portion 25 of the body member 20'. When the body member 20` is assembled on the panel 15, the flange portion 25 has a relatively larger cross-sectional size than that of the opening 17 in the panel 15 may bear directly against or engage the face of the panel 15 opposite the face of the panel 15 which is engaged by the nut 94 in a particular application or one or more ring-shaped spacer numbers 92 as shown in FIG. 1 may tbe interposed between the flange portion 25 and the panel 15 depending upon the thickness of the panel 15.

When assembled with the body member 20, the voltagedropping resistor 30 cooperates with the body member 20 to form part of the lamp receptacle or housing 70. The resistor 30 may be of any suitable type and may comprise for example a generally tubular refractory body member of any suitable resistance wire permanently molded therein and having a central opening 39 extending axially therethrough which is sufciently large to receive the body member 20. One end of the resistance wire which forms the resistance winding 36 is electrically connected to a terminal 32 which may be formed of a strip of metal and which extends radially outwardly from the refractory body member 38 of the resistor 30 at the left end of the resistor 30, as viewed in FIG. 1. Similarly, the other end of the resistance winding 36 is electrically connected to a terminal 34 which may be formed from a strip of metal and also which extends radially outwardly from the refractory body 38 of the resistor 30` as best shown in FIG. 2 adjacent to the other or right end of the resistor 30 as shown in FIG. 1. Each of the terminals 32 and 34 of the resistor 30 may include an opening, as indicated at 32A for the terminal 32, which is adapted to receive a terminal screw (not shown). Alternatively, the resistor 30 may be constructed by assembling the resistance winding 36 on a ceramic shell or sleeve along with the terminals 32 and 34 and then securing the windin g 36 and the terminals 32 and 34 on the inner shell by a coating of insulating material such as a vitreous enamel.

In order to electrically cormect the resistor 30 in series with the lamp 60, as will be explained hereinafter, a rst contact 103 which is generally U-Shaped in conguration and which is formed from a resilient electrically conducting material, such as phosphorus-bronze, is mounted at the right end of the resistor 30, as viewed in FIG. l. The contact 103 includes a leg portion 103A which extends axially for a predetermined distance inside the opening 39 of the resistor 30 from the right end of the resistor 30, as viewed in FIG. 1, and also includes a bight portion 103B which passes between Ithe right end of the resistor 30, as viewed in FIG. 1, through a radial groove 23 provided in the ange portion 25 of the body member 20, which also assists in properly positioning the resistor 30 with respect to the body member 20.

The groove 23 extends radially outwardly from the opening 22, which passes through both the tubular portion 24 and the llange portion 25, through a portion 25B of the flange portion 25 which projects radially beyond the balance of the tlange portion to provide an increased electrically insulating distance between the contact 103 and the panel which is normally maintained at ground potential to prevent any possibility of a ashover between the contact 103 and the panel 15. In order to electrically connect the contact 103 to the terminal 34 of the resistor 30 and to secure the contact 103 to the resistor 30, the contact 103 also includes a projecting tab portion 102, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, which extends radially outwardly from the resistor 30 and includes an opening 102A which is substantially aligned with the adjacent opening in the terminal 34 of the resistor 30. The tab portion 102 of the contact 103 may be secured to the terminal 34 of the resistor 30 by suitable means, such as a terminal screw or bolt means.

In order to provide a second contact for the lamp 60 inside the lamp receptacle or housing 70 which is formed by the body member and the resistor 30, the contact 112 is mounted on the tubular portion 21 of the body member 20 as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The contact 112 which is generally L-shaped in conguration includes a generally arcuate portion, as best shown in FIG. 2, which extends axially toward the right from the tubular portion 21 of the body member 20, as shown in FIG. 1. The contact 112 is also preferably formed from a resilient electrically conducting material, such as phosphorus-bronze, and includes a contact portion 112A which is disposed generally at slightly less than a right angle with respect to the generally arcuate portion which extends axially along the intermediate portion of the body member 20 and which is disposed in a generally nested relation but with the right portion 112B of the contact 112 which engages the terminal strip 64 on the indicating lamp 60 being spaced .4 or raised away from the intermediate portion 26 of the body member 20.

The right portion 112B of the contact 112 which engages one of the terminal strips 62 and 64 when the lamp `60 is properly positioned within the housing 70 also acts as a stop member when the lamp 60 is not properly inserted with the terminal strips 62 and 64 positioned to engage the respective contacts 103 and 112, as shown in FIG. 4. When the lamp 60 is properly inserted as shown in FIG. 1, the V-shaped or tapered end ofthe insulating base 66 of the lamp freely passes or slides over the portion 112B of the resilient contact 112. When the lamp 60 is rotated approximately about its own axis as shown in FIG. 4, the V-shaped edge of the base 66 of the lamp 60 engages the contact portion 112B and jams inside the housing 70 to prevent further entry of the lamp 60 and improper energization of the lamp 60.

It is to be noted that the tubular portion 21 of the body member 20 is substantially aligned axially with the tubular portion 24 of the body member 20` and includes a central opening 28 which extends arially therethrough, as best shown in FIG. 3. The tubular portion 21 of the body member 20 also includes a groove or recess 27 which extends transversely with respect to the intermediate portion 26 of the body member 20 to receive the contact portion 112A of the contact 112. The contact portion 112A also includes an opening therethrough which is substantially aligned with the opening 28 in the tubular portion 21 of the body member 20r when the contact 112 is assembled with the body member 20. lIn order to secure the contact 112 to the tubular portion 21 of the body member 20, an elongated electrically conducting member or stud 72 having an enlarged head, as indicated at 72A, is disposed to pass through the openings in the contact 112 and the tubular portion 21 of the body member 20 and to extend axially beyond the left end of the resistor 30, as shown or viewed in FIG. 1. The contact 112 and the conducting member 72 may be retained in assembled relation with the body member 20 prior to assembly of the resistor 30 on the body member 20 by the lock ring 82 of which is disposed on the conducting member 72 on the other side of the tubular portion 21 from the contact member 112. It is to be noted that the conducting member or stud 72 forms the only electrically conducting path between the contact 112 and the left end of the resistor 30, as viewed in FIG. 1. The enlarged head 72A of the conduct-ing member 72 may be hexagonal in configuration and disposed in the groove 27 provided in the tubular portion 21 of the body member 20 to prevent rotation of the conducting member 72 in place after the conducting member 72 is assembled with the body member 20. It is to be noted that the top of the tubular portion 21 of the body member 20 as best shown -in FIGS. 1 and 3 may be removed or flattened as indicated at 21A to permit the assembly of the resistor 30 on the body member 20 after the contact 103 yhas already been assembled on the resistor 30, as previously described.

Prior to the assembly of the resistor 30 on the body member 20, the tirst contact 103 may be assembled on the resistor 30 as previously described. The second contact 112 may also be assembled on the tubular portion 21 of the body member 20 along with the conducting member or stud 72 prior to the assembly of the resistor 30 on the body member 20. During assembly of the resistor 30 on the body member 20, the right end ot the resistor 30 is slid or assembled over the tubular portion 21 and the intermediate portion 26 of the body member 20 until the r-ight end of the resistor 30 bears -against the flange portion 2S of the body member 20, as shown in FIG. 1. As previously mentioned, the resistor 30 is properly positioned with respect to the body member 20 during the assembly thereof by positioning the contact 103 in the radial slot 23 of the body member 20 to thereby insure proper positioning of the parts inside the lamp receptacle or housing 70 which is thus formed. It

is to be noted that the cross-sectional size of the flange portion 25 is relatively larger than the size of the opening 29 in the resistor 30, as shown in FIG. 1.

In order to secure the resistor 30 to the body member 20 and to provide a separate electrical terminal 104 at the left end of the resistor 30, as viewed in FIG. 1, the generally disk-shaped terminal 104 is assembled at the left end of the resistor 30 and includes a central opening through which the elongated conducting member 72 passes as indicated in FIG. l. The terminal 104 may include a plurality of axially extendingvtabs 105 which extend into the opening 39 of the resistor 30 and frictionally assist in retaining the terminal member 104 in assembled relation with the resistor 30 prior to the assembly of the resistor 30 on the body member 20. As shown in FIG. 1, the left end of the conducting member 72 is externally threaded, as indicated at 72B, to receive a Washer 126, a lock Washer 124 and a nut 122 which may all be formed from an electrically conducting material, such as-brass. In order to facilitate electrical connections to the terminal 104, the terminal member 104 may include a radially extending portion which projects beyond the outer periphery of the resistor 30, as best shown in FIG. 2, and may include an opening 106 which is adapted to receive a terminal screw (not shown).

The indicating lamp 60 comprises an elongated glass bulb 63 having electrically conducting terminal strips 62 and 64 secured on the opposite sides thereof with the left ends of the terminal strips 62 and 64 being formed to be captured on or retained by cooperating projections provided on an electrically insulating base 66 of the indicating lamp 60. The left end of the base 66 may be tapered, as indicated in FIG. A1, to facilitate the insertion of the indicating lamp 60 into the lamp receptacle or housing 70 which is formed by the body member 20 and the resistor 30. When the lamp 60 is inserted axially into the opening 22 provided in the tubular portion 24 of the body member 20 and into the opening 39 of the resistor 30, the terminal strips 62 and 64 engage the resilient contact members 103 and 112 which are transversely spaced from one another inside the lamp receptacle or housing 70, as previously described. In order to facilitate the proper positioning of the terminal strips 62 and 64 on the lamp 60 with respect to the contacts 103 and 112 inside the housing 70, a pair of radially extending ridges 24B may be provided on the tubular portion 24 of the body member 20 to indicate the position of said contacts at the exposed end of the body member 20.

In order to protectively enclose the exposed bulb 63 at the indicating lamp 60, the lens member or cap member 40 is disposed to cover the indicating lamp 60, as shown in FIG. 1, with the lens member or cap member 40 being internally threaded to engage the externally threaded end of the tubular portion 24 of the body member 20 and to cover the nut 94, as shown in FIG. 1. The lens member 40 is formed from a translucent material which may be color coded to permit light from the indicating lamp 60 to be visible from the front of the panel 15 when the indicating lamp 60 is electrically energized.

In the overall operation of the indicating lamp unit 10, the terminal 32 and the terminal 104 may be electrically connected to a source of supply voltage to permit the energization of the indicating lamp 60 when desired. The energizing circuit for the indicating lamp 60 extends from the terminal 32 through the winding 36 of the resistor 30 to the terminal 34 of the resistor 30, the terminal tab portion 102 of the contact 103, the lamp terminal 62, and the lamp 60, the lamp terminal 64, the Contact 112, and the conducting member 72 to the other terminal 104 of the indicating lamp unit 10. It is important to note that the electrically conducting member 72 forms the only electrically conducting path through a substantial portion of the axial length of the resistor 30, as disclosed.

When the indicating lamp unit is to be assembled on a panel as shown in FIG. 1, all of the parts of the indicating lamps 10 may be preassembled except the nut 94, the lens member 40, and the spacing members 92 Where required. In order to replace the indicating lamp 60 after the indicating lamp unit 10 has been assembled on a panel 15, the lens member 40 need only be removed and the indicating lamp 60 withdrawn axially out of the opening 22 of the body member 20. It is important to note that the terminals 104 and 32 to which external electrical connection may be made to the indicating lamp unit 10 are conveniently disposed at the same end of the indicating lamp unit or assembly 10.

It is to be understood that in certain applications, the tubular portion 24 of the body member 20 need not be externally threaded as disclosed but that a groove may be provided on the tubular portion 24 which is adapted to receive a locking ring and that a snap or lens member may be provided in such a modified construction to engage the exposed end of the tubular portion 24.

The apparatus embodying the teachings of this invention has several advantages. For example, the disclosed indicating lamp housing construction lends itself to convenient assembly with one of the lamp housing contacts being conveniently mounted on the voltage-dropping resistor and the other cooperating contact being conveniently rnounted on the body member 20 whose intermediate portion 2-6 is conveniently open to facilitate the assembly of the contact 112 and the conducting member 72 on the body member 20. In addition, the indicating lamp housing construction as disclosed requires a relatively fewer number of parts and permits a relatively smaller overall depth or length compared with certain known indicating lamp structures. It is important to note that the voltage dropping resistor itself forms a part of the overall lamp receptacle or housing 70 as disclosed to reduce the number of required parts in the indicating lamp unit 10. A final important advantage of the disclosed indicating lamp assembly is that the length of the electrical circuit which extend between the terminals 32 and 104 through the resistor 30 and the lamp 60 is substantially minimized by the arrangement of the contacts 103 and 112 and the construction of the housing or receptacle 70.

Since numerous changes may be made in the above described apparatus and different embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is intended that all the matter contained in the foregoing descriptionor shown in the ac- -companying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention:

1. An indicating lamp housing comprising a body of insulating material including a rst tubular portion at one end having a4 central opening extendin-g therethrough, a second generally tubular portion at the other end which is substantially aligned with the first portion, and an axially intermediate portion connecting said first and second portions and having a cross section which extends around only a portion of the opening in said rst portion, a generally tubular resistor having a cent-ral opening in which the intermediate and second portions of said body of insulating material are disposed, a first contact mounted on the second portion of said body and extending axially along the inner surface of said intermediate portion, and a second contact mounted on the resistor adjacent to the first portion of said body of insulating material to extend axially along at least a portion of the opening in said resistor and being spaced transversely from said first contact.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein a terminal means is provided on said `resistor adjacent to the body of insulating material, said second contact being electrically connected to said terminal means.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first portion of the body of insulating material is at least partially externally threaded and includes a ange portion of relatively larger size than the opening in said resistor against which one end of the resistor bears.

4. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein additional means is provided for closing off the central opening in the rst portion of the body of insulating material including a cap of translucent material.

'5. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein a terminal means is mounted adjacent to the end of the resistor away from the body of insulating material and an elongated electrically conducting member is disposed to interconnect the terminal means and the rst Contact and to pass through at least a portion of the opening in said resistor to extend beyond said terminal means.

6. The combination as claimed in claim 5 wherein the elongated conducting member is threaded adjacent to the associated terminal means and means is disposed on the elongated conducting member for securing the resistor t0 the body of insulating material.

7. The combination as claimed in claim 5 wherein the rst portion of the body of insulating material includes a ange portion of relatively larger size than the opening in the associated resistor and the elongated conducting means has means disposed thereon for securing the resistor to the body of insulating material.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,331,254 10/1943 West 338-2l9 X LEWIS H. MYERS, Primary Examiner.

ELLIOT GOLDBERG, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 

